Hyderabad: The ruling Congress on Friday swept the first phase of Gram Panchayat elections in Telangana, winning more than half of 4,236 Sarpanch posts. Candidates backed by Congress bagged 2,319 Sarpanch posts, including those elected unopposed.

Though the elections were fought on a non-party basis, the results show that Congress-backed candidates swept the polls in the majority of Gram Panchayats.

Main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi ( BRS ) was in second position, bagging 1,159 Sarpanch posts. The Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) was distant third with 188 posts.

Others and independents were elected in 534 Gram Panchayats. While 396 Sarpanches were elected unanimously, the polling was held for 3,834 Sarpanch posts in 31 districts on Thursday.

Barring Siddipet and Kumaram Bhee

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